Harwin declined to comment in detail, other than to say the victim was not the mother of Perry's 11-month-old daughter nor a UA student, and issued a statement to the Star.

"We should all remember that Jesse Perry is presumed innocent of this charge," Harwin said. "A lot of you know Jesse as I do - as an extraordinarily hard-working, diligent young man who has never been in trouble in his life. Jesse Perry is not only an honored athlete but a full-time student at the University of Arizona, a senior with a spotless record who is on track to graduate.

"Jesse has a deep commitment to the Tucson community and a deep sense of honor. ... and Jesse trusts that he will be treated fairly by the prosecuting office, the judicial system and the university. Jesse Perry is presumed to be innocent and is looking forward to his day in the court so he can defend his good name."

Tucson police said they first learned of an incident Thursday afternoon, after a woman was reported injured following a stay at Perry's apartment near East Grant Road and North First Avenue starting Wednesday evening and continuing into Thursday morning.

Perry was charged after police said a hospital notified them that a woman suffered "obvious, but not life-threatening" injuries as the result of an assault by a man with whom she had a previous romantic relationship.

Harwin said it was "not normal at all" that the hospital notified police instead of the incident's being reported to 911 after it happened.

Perry spent Friday night in the Pima County jail and was released without having to post bond on Saturday morning after he made an initial appearance via videoconference in Pima County Justice Court.

Perry is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Pima County Justice Court on May 11.

Perry, 22, finished his senior season in March but remains enrolled at UA with an expectation of finishing his degree next month. He is a native of St. Louis.